Description:
Woven headpiece, with faded red, black, and white designs. Long trunk or beak extends from face of headpiece. Two small round cutouts for eyes, rimmed in black and white. A flap is in place for the mouth, with an extra flap on the back.

Label Text:
SKINNER LABEL:
A RITUAL MASK FROM NEW GUINEA In New Guinea masks are indispensable. They vivify the great facts of life, such as honoring the gods, reviving the memory of ancestors, the obligations to tribal customs and traditions. The ritual mask imparts to its wearer the qualities and real nature of the being represented. It loses none of its sanctity by being one in a procession of dozens of masks. Mask making is a sacred art. This one is painted in yellow natural clay and red clay made from burnt white clay. The opening for the eyes and mouth enable its wearer to see and to breathe.

Tags:
indigenous people

Subjects:
Indigenous peoples

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=MH+SK+2006.2044.INV

Research on objects in the collections, including provenance, is ongoing and may be incomplete. If you have additional information or would like to learn more about a particular object, please email fc-museums-web@fivecolleges.edu.